(even Ernie Anastos' co-anchor was shocked by Tim Cowlishaw)
If I didn't read it, I wouldn't believe it.
Three weeks ago, we brought you the fine wordsmithing of John Canzano, the Oregonian columnist, who said if he didn't like what he saw from MMA at UFC 102 then it's not legitimate.
The UFC has touched ground in Dallas for UFC 103 and now it's Tim Cowlishaw's turn to re-write the same column T.J. Simers and countless others have written. Cowlishaw's got nerve, though -- he actually made sure to take it a step further, throwing in an anti-gay slur. Much like Bob Arum, who said MMA is a bunch of homosexuals (VIDEO - 4:20 mark) rolling around on the floor, Cowlishaw indicated he's homophobic as well when it comes to the ground work in cagefighting:
They could call their videos Rough Man Love Gone Wild, for all I can tell.
Whoa. That seems a bit insensitive. This is the Dallas Morning News and a guy who makes reuglar appearances on ESPN's Around the Horn, right? Would it be kosher to utter a line like that on the television show, or better yet in front of ESPN.com writer LZ Granderson, who is openly gay?
Cowlishaw admits that he prefers boxing and it's clear he's got a little angst towards the growth of MMA. He does give the UFC and Dana White credit for marketing the sport well, but the anti-gay line seems to be a bit much. I wonder what the Texas high school wrestling community or jiu-jitsu practioners would think of Cowlishaw's statement?
